Occupant propelled rotating swing

ABSTRACT

IN A ROTATING SWING STRUCTURE WHICH IS CAUSED TO PROGRESSIVELY ROTATE STEP BY STEP AS THE OCCUPANT SWINGS BACK AND FORTH IN THE SWINGING UNIT OF THE DEVICE. THE SWING WILL ROTATE BY SMALL INCREMENTS AS LONG AS THE SWINGING UNIT RECIPROCATES. THE ROTATING MOVEMENT WILL CONTINUE ONLY IN ONE DIRECTION, AND IS PREVENTED FROM REGRESSING BY A MEMBER WHICH GRIPS A STATIONARY RING.

May 23, 1972 w. L. SCOTT OCCUPANT PROPELLED ROTATING SWING Filed April 2 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJ mlllll May 23, 1972 w, sco-r'r 3,664,66

OCCUPANT PHOPELLED ROTATING SWING Filed April 2. 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet Z INVENTOR. W/IL 7'52 L. J'co rr United States Patent 3,664,665 OCCUPANT PROPELLED ROTATING SWING Walter L. Scott, 3101 E. 2nd St., Long Beach, Calif. 90803 Filed Apr. 2, 1970, Ser. No. 25,171 Int. Cl. A63g 1/20 U.S. Cl. 272-33 R 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An object of my invention is to provide a novel rotating swing which has a controlled and regulated progressive circular ride which is entirely actuated by the occupant of the swinging element of the device.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel gripping member which engages a stationary ring to prevent regression of the supporting structure of the swing during the backward movement of the swinging element. Thus the swinging element movement progresses only in a forward direction and in a rotary movement, in addition to a back and forth swinging action of the usual supported swlng.

Another object of my invention is to provide a spring or weight on the gripping member engaging the ring, the spring or weight being adjustable so that the gripping member is held in contact with the stationary ring during the progressive movement of the device.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claim.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my rotating swing.

FIG. 2' is a top plan view of the same.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the progressive rotating mechanism of the swing.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from line 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the progressive rotating unit.

FIG. 7 is an end view taken from line 7--7 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on line *88- of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 99 of FIG. 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates a central supporting and bearing pipe which is fixedly mounted in the ground and supports an entire swing structure. At the upper end of the post 1 and at a considerable distance above the ground level, I provide a progressive rotating mechanism generally indicated at 2. A central bearing shaft 3 is journaled in the post 1, and this shaft is free to rotate but essentially only in one direction, which will be termed a forward direction. A pair of arms 4-5 are fixedly attached to the shaft 3 at their inner ends and project horizontally outwardly to act as supports for a plurality of reciprocating swings 6. These swings are preferably supported on a chain or cable from the arms 4-5, all of which is usually and well known in the art. The occupant sits in a seat or saddle 7, which again is usual and well known. To prevent the cable 6 from becoming entangled with the arms 4-5 I may provide metal pipes or sleeves 8 on the cable 6, and particularly at the upper ends of these cables. To reinforce the arms 3,664,665 Patented May 23, 1972 4-5 I provide a beam, rod, or cable 9 which extends outwardly from the shaft 3 to the outer ends of the arms 4-5. I thus provide a rigid structure which will effectively support the occupants of the swings.

As the occupant of the swings propel themselves back and forth the swings, as well as the arms 45, will rotate in one direction, that is, forwardly in a successive step by step manner. By forwardly is meant a counter-clockwise movement of the arms 3 and 4 when viewed from above. This rotating action is activated entirely by the occupant of the swings and consists of the following: A ring or plate 10 is fixedly attached to the post 1 and preferably at or adjacent to the top of this post. A bar 11 extends horizontally from the shaft 3 and is positioned parallel to and above the circular ring or plate 10. At one end the bar 11 has a gripping member 12 mounted thereon. This gripping member is journaled on the bar 11 and has a limited rotating movement on the bar. The gripping member is formed with a notch 13 which straddles the outer edge of the ring 10. Forward swinging movement by the occupant of the swing :6 will cause the shaft 3 to rotate through a small are, which also rotates the bar 11. This causes the gripper 12 to slide arcuately over the ring 10 for a short distance until the force on the shaft 3 is reversed by the backward swing of the occupant of the swinging unit 6. To prevent regression of the shaft 3 a pin 14 projects downwardly from the gripper frame 12 and bites into the surface of the ring 10, thus holding the bar 11 in a fixed position until the occupant again swings forwardly when the step by step progressive rotary movement is repeated. To hold the gripper frame 12 downwardly against the ring 10, I provide a hook 15, one end of which hooks under the bar 11, and a spring 16 encircles the hook 15 and bears against the top of the gripper frame 12, thus urging the gripper frame downwardly so that the sharp pin 14 will bite into the ring 10.

A backup unit 17 is also formed as a frame and which frame has a notch 18 therein in which the ring 10 projects. The backup unit 17 is mounted on the outer end of a horizontal arm 19' projecting from the shaft 3. This backup unit has a limited rotating movement on the arm 19 so that the notch 18 can engage and disengage the ring 10, depending on the position of the gripping unit 12. The gripping unit and the backup unit are coupled together by a pin 20 which extends between these units and is attached thereto, and also by a s ring 21 which connects the .backup unit and the link 22. The link 22 extends downwardly from the bar 11 and serves to drag the backup unit along back of the gripping unit 12 as the bar 11 rotates step by step, due to the swinging action of the occupants. The spring 21 also serves to properly position the backup unit 17 so that this backup unit will be in a position to grip the ring 10' during the backward swing of the occupants, but still permitting the backup unit and the gripper unit both to release and be free to move a step in the forward direction as the occupant swings forwardly.

If it is found necesary a second backup unit 23 can be employed. This second backup is very similar in construction to the backup unit 17 and is mounted on the extension 24 of the bar 11. The backup member 23 consists of a frame 25 formed with the notch 26 which engages the ring 10, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. An arm 27 projects from the bar extension 24 and is connected to the frame 25 by a short chain 28. The arm 27 is fixed to the bar extension 24, but the frame 25 has a limited rocking motion on the bar 24. Thus the notch 26 serves to engage and disengage the ring 10, depending on the force which is applied to the bar 11 by the reciprocating swinging action of the occupant of the swing.

The notches 18 and 26 in the backup members 17 and 23 respectively, may have cam shaped surfaces engaging the ring 10, or the surfaces may be straight or square, as found most expedient. It is the tilting of these members which causes the edges of the notches to engage the ring and prevent retraction or reverse movement of the actuating mechanisms. Thus the step by step progressive rotating action of the swing will be accomplished and the gripping member 12, as it tilts or partly rotates on the bar 11, will cause the pin 14 to be pressed into the surface of the ring 10, thus holding the gripper unit 12 in its successive advancing positions.

IN OPERATION The occupant of the swings 6, when moving back and forth in a swinging motion, will cause the arms 4-5 to progressively rotated around the post 1 and will rotate the shaft 3. Rotation of the shaft 3, in turn, will partially rotate the bars 11 and 24 and the arm 19, thus imparting a slight tilt to the frame 12 of the gripper. The occupant at this time is swinging rearwardly, imparting a reverse movement to the arms 4-5 and a reverse rotation to the shaft 3. This reverse rotation is opposed by the pin 14 which bites into the surface of the ring 10 to prevent or oppose reverse movement of the unit 12. Also the backup units 17 and 23 will simultaneously engage the ring 10 and will assist in preventing reverse movement of the unit 12, but will hold that .unit stationary during the backward swing of the occupant and until the forward swing of the occupant occurs, at which time the unit 12 will again be tilted to permit a forward step and so on successively as long as the occupant reciprocates in the swing units 6. It is also desirable to provide a limited vertical movement of the frame 12 of the gripping movement relative to the bar 11, and also a limited vertical movement of the backup members 17 and 23, whereby these members may be effectively released from engagement with the ring 10 and to re-engage that ring on reverse movement of the swing elements 6.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A rotating passenger driven swing comprising a shaft, means journaling the shaft about a vertical axis, a horizontal arm projecting from the shaft, a swing suspended from said arm for .reciprocation by a pas senger, a stationary ring surrounding said shaft, means carried by said shaft adapted to selectively grip and release said ring to allow incremental progresion relative to said ring of said means and said swing upon reciprocation of the swing, said means including a notched frame pivotally carried by an arm secured to said shaft with the periphery of the ring extending into said notch and engaged thereby, a tooth carried by said frame, whereby oscillation of the swing in one direction causes the shaft to rotate in that direction which in turn causes the frame to pivot in such manner as to slide along the surface of the ring and simultaneously dispose the tooth out of contact with the ring and upon oscillation in the opposite direction, the frame is pivoted in the opposite direction thereby causing the tooth to grip the ring in such manner as to prevent retrograde movement.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 446,182 2/1891 Frueh 272-33 R 1,014,346 l/l912 Stewart 272-33 R 1,020,084 3/1912 Dunning 272-33 R 1,548,535 8/1925 Lydecker 272- X 1,671,329 5/1928 Swanson 272-33 R 2,189,239 2/ 1940 Brewster, Sr. 272-33 R ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner A. W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner 

